Looking for non-POS tire lever suggestions

It was with frozen digits, standing over a flat in the snow, flinging every cuss word I could think of into the frigid blast that I decided I need new tire levers regardless of the cost. My latest are from Performance, with a metal core. Of course, the plastic bends back right at the end of the strip of metal, rendering the levers completely useless and the air full of obscenities when trying to remove 23c clinchers.

I haven't had any trouble mounting tires, but only the removal thereof. Any suggestions for a good set to carry with me that will ease my stress levels?

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Permalink Reply by Ali on January 29, 2009 at 6:24am
I have a set of spin doctors. They work great, they have a metal core.

-Ali
Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 29, 2009 at 7:06am
I've got the nylon Park set, they work well for me.
Permalink Reply by DavID on January 29, 2009 at 7:10am
PEDROS!!!!! have had em forever, use them on 23c folding all the time.
Permalink Reply by yellow jello on January 29, 2009 at 7:10am
I use a set of Soma steel core ones. I don't know if they're any better or worse than other steel core ones but I've never had any issues.

What type of 23c tires do you use? My personal experience is that the type of bead on the tire is more directly related to the amount of cussing that occurs when fixing flats.
Permalink Reply by Ron on January 29, 2009 at 7:53am
I'm with David, I've used many, but find Pedro's to be the most reliable and easy to use. Let me know if you want a set.
Permalink Reply by Martin Hazard on January 29, 2009 at 8:53am
I haven't used the steel core Performance levers personally. I have had no problem with the Park, or the Pref. knock off of of them. I would have to agree with Dave on the Pedros levers. They are wider and more durable, and lighter than the steel core levers. Unlike most levers, they only come in sets of two, since they are less likely to break. They are probably the best ones on the market currently.
Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on January 29, 2009 at 10:56am
the steel-core soma levers did me right for a while, but within a year i snapped the (plastic) tip on one and bent another tip beyond recognition.

these days, i swear by pedros... just like everyone else, it seems :)
Permalink Reply by Gecko on January 29, 2009 at 11:31am
Park tool heavy duty steel ones work great and they're almost perfectly flat so they stow easily. I've never bent/broken one and I've used them with tubeless, downhill, road, etc. They're around 8 inches long so they give better leverage too. It's around 15-20 bucks for 2 of them but it's a worthwhile investment as you'll never have to replace them, and even if you do, park has a lifetime warranty like craftsman.

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=17&item=TL-5
Permalink Reply by J on January 29, 2009 at 12:57pm
At work, I use the Park TL-10, which isn't all that portable.

In regards to the metal core vs. wide-flat (ie Pedros) vs all-metal (Eldi, Park TL-5) levers -- that said truth is that it really depends on the wheels's rim and tire combination. Know that not all 700c rims are actually 622mm in diameter and the same goes for tires. And so certain combinations are just nightmares to work with.

Last week, I helped a guy on the side of the road. I was carrying 2 soma metal core levers and 2 Pedros. We ended up breaking both Pedros and one Soma attempting to free his Vittoria Randonneur from his Mavic Ksyrium Elite. In the end, we very carefully resorted to using a metal mini tool and the remaining Soma.

There are tricks, of course. Dab a bit of grease on the levers before attempting to spin one forward to free the first bead. Do the standing-stretch before mounting tight/new tires to tall rims. But the best trick is to find a proper marriage between rim and tire.

I sell a lot of the same tire/rim combinations, so when selling handbuilt wheels -- I usually include a set of the type of lever that will generally work best on that combination. This is not a hard and fast rule, but in my experience the wide and fat levers work best with high pressure tires, especially those with kevlar beads and even if running a tall rim. The metal core leers, which are narrower and fatter, require a deeper tire bed to really work -- so these are more effective on touring and MTB rims and tires wider than 28c.
Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on January 30, 2009 at 3:36am
I use the pedros big plastic ones honestly, they're the shit.

those tiny ones that come with the kits are crappy, and broke once when I was trying to change a tire.
Permalink Reply by root on January 30, 2009 at 3:54am
i've got the park ones el gecko linked to and love them.
Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 30, 2009 at 6:40am
M.A.R.K. said:


Tire selection I think does have alot to do with diffaculty getting the tire off.

Very true. I found my Conti's to be soooo tight when they were new. Especially compared to the Hutchisons and Michlens I've used before. But after a season on them, then swiching to "city tires" with a wire bead, and then back to the Conti's, they had relaxed a bit and slipped on the rim super easy. I had to remount them twice (forgot they were directional) and was able to slip them on and off both times with a single lever, and minimal effort. Of course the radiators in my apartment were on full blast....numb fingers might have made it more dificult. (would the temp outside also contract the tire around the rim???)

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